On Friday 15th of April Challenge 2000 held the Newlands Community Centre Easter Egg Hunt. It was the last day of the school term and pouring down with rain but plenty of young people turned up to join in the festivities. We had 9 teams tied together by the legs, stumbling and crawling around the Newlands Community Centre as they raced to collect tokens to be redeemed for eggs. Everyone enjoyed themselves and a sweet chocolate egg or two.
It was a great way to end the terms after school activity programme that had seen 527 youth visits! A big thanks to Donna and Hinetai, the Newlands Community Centre staff and all those Youth Workers and Trainee Youth Workers involved that helped make it an outstanding term.
Kitty McKinley with the Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand
Kitty McKinley the founder of Challenge 2000 and a Social Worker for 35 years, was recognised for her Services to Youth and the Community in the New Years Honours and received this award at Government House in April.
Kitty is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
She says: “it is a privilege to receive this award and an honour to be part of so many peoples’ lives over so many years. Throughout my life I have received far more than I have given and it has been absolutely amazing to share deeply in the pain, grief, achievements and hopes of so many people from every sector of society. Love works and it does change lives, systems and communities if you just keep on doing it and never give up. A team or community of people who are passionate about serving their country and by doing the little things one after the other, day after day, week after week do make a difference.
I am so grateful to all the current and past staff and board members and supporters of Challenge who have made me look good and who have served generously and selflessly! So many people just turn up and give what is needed when it is needed – thank you.
There are still so many injustices in our country that must be addressed- the challenge is to keep on working to make Aotearoa New Zealand what it can be – a place of hope, justice and unity. Let’s keep doing it!!”.
Challenge 2000 staff continue to provide our usual range of youth and family services including leadership programmes, college retreats, after-school and holiday programmes, youth groups, camps and individual programmes and we have also developed some new initiatives eg our Amorangi Programme and court supervised camps – these being part of their Fresh Start Initiative.
We have stood with young people and families in times of great need and also celebrated their successes. In the midst of this we have been inspired by the courage, resilience and hope that we have experienced in many people and places.
In the past few months we have farewelled some ‘old faces’- Steve Tamarapa, Kevin Head sm and Tina May Wilkins and we wish them well as they move on to being Challenge whanau elsewhere!! We have also welcomed some new (and some not so new) people including Ray Ropata, Heath Hutton and our seven Gap year trainees (Joe, Solana, Therese, Andrew, Steve, Sam and Alivia).
In the midst of all the change here at Challenge, we were shocked and grieved by the tragedy of the Christchurch earthquake and subsequently the events in Japan. As well as offering our support to our family and friends in Christchurch, we have offered our support in the coming months if it is needed for the recovery process. These events have certainly caused us all to reflect on what is really important in life and have given the team at Challenge a renewed sense of purpose.
We have an amazingly talented, dedicated team of staff and volunteers who are willing to do what it takes each day to make a difference. We are excited about the year ahead, one which promises to be full of many adventures. If you would like to join us on one of these adventures, you can start by marking on your calendars Sunday 29 May as the date for our annual Quiz night. Look forward to seeing you there!
50% of our young people participating in our programmes do not have access to private transport or enough money to pay for public transport. Others are not safe to travel and need to be collected from home or their care givers place. Our camps and youth development programmes also need a van or two to transport participants – not to mention our sports, cultural and drama teams!!!
So thank you to those that have helped us to get another van!!!
Helping us to help others:
My name is Manu I’m 21 years of age and have been a full time employee at Challenge 2000 for a few years. My role at C2K is not only a youth worker but someone who helps out on work projects. We as a team try to raise funds for C2K by doing jobs for others, but we also give a lending hand when needed such as mowing lawns, removing rubbish or just odd jobs for people that can’t do some things for themselves. We do a large range of work from tree work to building decks and retaining walls. I also help out at camps and do some sports and recreational activities with young people. All this is impossible without wheels – Thank you!!.
Andy Murray our works supervisor viewing his work!
Challenge’s Community Works Team are firing on all cylinders. So far in 2011 the team have built fences, mowed lawns, prepared tonnes of firewood, assembled and dismantled countless marquee’s for Wellington’s biggest summer events, moved people from point A to Z and everywhere in between, and much much more.
For many years Challenge has been running a community works team that help teach young people critical work skills. At the same time these young people earn some money and get valuable work experience for future careers. We also carry out work for you to the highest professional standard.
Do you have any work that needs to be done? Lawns mowed, hedges trimmed, trees removed, fences and retaining walls built? Does your house need a wash or perhaps you’ve wanted to paint for a while? Would a deck add value to your house?
Please contact us for a professional and competitive quote email challenge2000@xtra.co.nz or 477 6827. As an agency committed to social justice we are also happy to help those that are not in a financial position to pay for services.
Kitty McKinley will recive an honour from the Governor General of New Zealand on 14 April. Challenge 2000 is throwing her a simple party, Friday 15 April, to celebrate this very important recognition. Join us at Connolly Hall 5:30 – 8:30pm.
In 2011 Challenge 2000 and the Society of Mary are again offering a Gap Year programme for young people in between College and their next step – work, study, or uni. This full time project involves NZQA training, work experience and placement in a community agency that supports participants career aspirations and future realities. During the Gap Year participants will build up each of the elements required for a balanced life: Work, Social, Personal, Spiritual, Intellectual and Physical dimensions. This yearly programme is exciting and rewarding and makes a big difference both to the participants and those they get a chance to serve. If you are interested find out more now……
So what do our Gap participants think about it so far!!
Talofa lava my name is Andrew Solomona. I am originally from Auckland and have come down to Wellington to take part in the Challenge 2000 Marist Gap Year programme. So far this experience and the opportunities that I have been given have been tremendously rewarding. During my first week at Challenge I was fortunate enough to attend a Social Justice hui where people working in different sorts of Justice fields spoke about how they are doing their bit to make a difference – it was a great learning experience.
The following week I helped with the Saint Patrick’s College Silverstream retreat, which gave me an insight into what it is like to be a leader and role model for young males. Through this I gained many leadership skills with the help of Andy Murray, James Van Schie and Heath Hutton. One of the nights on the retreat we had inspirational speakers share with us, two of these were Tim Duckworth and Matt Crawford. These talks really challenged me and opened my eyes to a number of issues we have in our world today. The next week I and the other five Gap students were lucky enough to spend three days in Kuratau on a camp lead by Kitty and Andy. These days were packed with adventure and reflective discussions. During this first term I have also helped out on a four day camp and also have worked on missions – doing things like building fences, chopping fire wood and doing lawns for older people. We also have lots of talks and have also gone around seeing great things in Wellington – it has been really awesome. This Gap Year programme is the best thing that ever happened to me and there’s a lot left to experience.
My name is Alivia Bowe and I am part of the Gap year programme at Challenge 2000. I have come from New Plymouth and have recently moved down to Wellington to become part of the Challenge team. During my first term at C2K I have been fortunate enough to help run a girls group at Porirua College and help the School Social Worker out at Bishop Viard College. I regularly visit an elderly lady and do odd jobs for her like supermarket shopping or pick up extra medication for her. I have also been organising and running sports games at Newlands Community Centre every Monday afternoon. Each of these have been a real eye opener for me as all of this is a new experience. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and cannot wait for what lies ahead!
Interested in finding out more?
Contact Kitty McKinley at Challenge 2000: Phone: (04) 477 6827
Challenge 2000’s James van Schie was presented with a Vodafone World of Difference Gem Award at Parliament House on Tuesday 23 November. The award was presented by the Hon Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development, Employment, and Youth Affairs.
James receiving the Vodafone World of Difference Gem Award.
The Gem award will pay James’ salary for a period of 3 months. During this time, James hopes to develop and implement a fundraising plan that secures Challenge’s long term sustainability.
James is pretty excited about the opportunity. “I am really looking forward to this project. Challenge offers a unique and critical service to young people and their families and I am chuffed to be able to help this continue.”
If you encounter James any time soon don’t be surprised or offended if he talks to you about a donation.
On the subject, would you like to make a donation to Challenge 2000? Click here to help.
The third day of our school holiday programme involved team sports, beginning with a game of softball at Newlands Park. The ground was very soft and we all waited with anticipation to see who would be the first to slide into base and make a mess of their clothes! Everyone was very reserved however, and we all stayed clean — during the softball game anyway!
After a snack we made our way to some firmer ground to play non-stop cricket. An entertaining impromptu game of four square began as well. What a fantastic way to spend a lovely fine Wellington afternoon!
Trudi
Wearable Arts
The World of Wearable Arts Awards Show that was running in Wellington inspired the second day of our holiday programme at Newlands Community Centre.
We formed three teams that were given a special motto each: Jungle, Ocean and Desert. The teams had to create an outfit representing their motto.
We provided various resources containing recyclable rubbish (e.g. empty milk containers, cans, toilet paper rolls, old shirts and sheets, newspaper, rubbish bags, plastic containers) and craft materials (as tissue and crepe paper, paint, glue, wire, tape, and cotton wool). After having had a look at the material, the teams designed their costumes by making sketches before they actually started creating their masterpieces.
Once we had finished the costumes it was time for a fashion show! The models showing off the creations went on stage accompanied by the rest of their team who gave a short explanation. “Team Desert” produced the costume of a tribal warrior hunting for a desert bunny with a spear. “Team Jungle” designed the look of a jungle boy wearing a hat with a magic snake. “Team Ocean” came up with a dolphin dress and an appeal for environmental awareness.
All the participants came up with amazing ideas and showed a lot of creativity in creating wearable art!
Tabea & Stef
Beach Day
On the second week of the school holidays, we went to Titahi Bay Beach to swim and play in the sand. We began with a game of beach volleyball, inspired by some kind person leaving a net partially erected on the beach. Some awesome skills were shown before the breeze picked up and kept blowing our ball away.
A few of the braver members of the group took a dip in the sea while others played in the sand before we went in search of lunch. Once again we were blessed with a beautifully sunny spring day.
WOW! We had an excellent, eventful and quite successful term 3!
Key achievements this term were: fundraising and donating $175.00 to the Kenbe La Foundation – The Source of Hope School — as part of our community focus projects, a Luncheon for invited guests, and school Camp!
COMMUNITY FOCUS
The aim of our Community Focus Friday afternoons was to allow the students to think/look outside themselves at other people within our community. Not just the community we live in, but our community as a city, as a nation and as part of the global community.
HAITI PROJECT
How did the students achieve success in fundraising $175.00? By hard work on the part of the students, the staff, and people/organisations within our community. The idea came about at the start of Term 3, when we were researching Haiti and the effects of the devastating earthquake in January. We took particular interest in the story of Emily Sanson-Rejouis, who lost her husband and two of her three daughters. Part of her healing was to have her husband’s dream of a school for the impoverished young people of Haiti built.
We had a sausage sizzle – and thanks to Mitre 10 Mega Petone for letting us have our sausage sizzle there and to Brumby’s in Johnsonville for donating many loaves of bread … and also our Challenge College Principal who paid for the other resources to ensure that the money we raised all went towards our goal. The students did a fabulous job, and did themselves and Challenge College proud.
The other fundraising event was our performance of a 15 minute version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. The students were outstanding, even though they had stepped well out of their comfort zone. And the audience were further entertained with a performance from one of our students, an up & coming rap artist – Tyler, also known as Ty-1. Family, friends and Challenge 2000 staff came along to support the students, making at least a gold coin donation at the door to help in our Haiti fundraising efforts.
Class Reps making the Donation for The Source of Hope School.
LUNCHEON
As part of the students’ think/look outside ourselves initiative, we thought it would be good to give back to those who love and support us. So the students each invited a family member or a Challenge 2000 staff member to a lunch that they planned, prepared and cooked. During term 3, the students had been involved in cooking classes and used some of the recipes they had learnt. The menu consisted of sushi, chicken pie and salad, chocolate cake, butterscotch sauce and ice cream for dessert.
Each student invited someone and all did their part to help prepare, cook and serve the meal to their guests – a great effort by all of the students.
CAMP
The students were dubious about the prospect of the unfamiliar and unknown – will there be power? Will there be a flushable toilet? Will we have cell phone coverage? Just a few of the questions asked when camp was mentioned!
Trying to get close enough to take a photo
We travelled in the van over the Rimutaka ranges to Greytown, then headed inland to our home for the next three days and two nights. To many people’s delight we had a roof, four walls, running hot and cold water and flushing toilets! We set up, unpacked and then headed to experience, some for the first time, a dairy farm near Masterton. The weather was horrible and made things a little unpleasant! After a swim at the Masterton pool Andy organised a lovely ‘bush tucker’ dinner of sausages, veges and potatoes, before we all readied ourselves for bed and ‘camp fire’! Since the weather was still not being kind to us, a torch lantern in the middle of the floor had to suffice as our ‘camp fire’. We told stories and Andy introduced us to ‘Cedric’ the local boogie man!
Fine weather the next day saw us travelling to Cape Palliser to see the largest colony of seals in the North Island and then climbing 258 steps to the light house. All of us made it to the top. After lunch we practised our waiata for our visit to Papawai Marae. We all enjoyed our marae experience and learnt a lot! Then Andy took the boys to collect fire wood so we could have a real camp fire that night, while the girls had a good gossip over dinner preparations.
Dinner was eaten with the camp fire raging, and it didn’t matter where we moved — the wind would change and send the smoke to us! Our camp fire Leader Andy, with helper Jeff, prepped the fire for marshmellow roasting, at which we all had a go. Some were natural talents, others needed a bit of coaching from Andy. Before bed we each shared our highlight for the day.
Last day of camp, and the weather was still good. Breakfast, pack up, tidy up, ready to return home after lunch. The driving range before lunch was a blast! There were some students who were good, one hitting the ball over 150m, while two of the staff members hit it past 200m!
Then clean up, load up and finish off our camp with a thought from each participant on how they felt about camp. Such an amazing experience was the consensus of all and the students were asking to stay longer, or at least have another camp in Term 4!
Snow fight begins…
Because it had snowed the night before we stopped at the top of the Rimutaka hills and had a snow fight – the first time for some of the students! Then we were back at Challenge College. What a great time we had!
On Friday 15th of April Challenge 2000 held the Newlands Community Centre Easter Egg Hunt. It was the last day of the school term and pouring down with rain but plenty of young people turned up to join in the festivities. We had 9 teams tied together by the legs, stumbling and crawling around the Newlands Community Centre as they raced to collect tokens to be redeemed for eggs. Everyone enjoyed themselves and a sweet chocolate egg or two.
